19/11/2025 | Energy markets

Changes to support for clean power would damage investor confidence and would not save billpayers money

19 November 2025 - RenewableUK press release


Responding to the Government’s consultation on changes to the Renewables Obligation, a scheme which supports older renewable energy projects, RenewableUK’s Executive Director of Policy and Engagement Ana Musat said:


“We recognise the need to cut electricity bills, but the Government’s proposal to change the way in which the Renewables Obligation is calculated will not achieve this.


“Stability on energy policy over many years has won trust among private investors and lowered the cost of finance. Retrospective changes are extremely atypical in the UK and would undermine our reputation as a stable investment environment. If this proposal were to be implemented, it’s likely that we would see investors pricing in the risk of changes like this every time they finance a project. As such, any savings from the changes to the RO scheme would be offset by increased costs to finance energy infrastructure, which would ultimately be passed on to consumer bills.


“The industry is willing to work with the Government to explore other options to reduce bills, such as moving energy policy costs from electricity bills into general taxation to help hard-pressed billpayers and we hope to see this outlined in the Autumn Budget later this month.


“We are a world leader in clean power. The UK’s reputation as a safe place for investment in vital new renewable energy capacity was hard won and must be retained, to keep costs as low as possible for billpayers”.


(ends)

Notes


For further information, contact


Robert Norris, Head of Communications
07969 229 913 | Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com



  1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 500 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and to access export markets all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.


  2. The Government’s proposals include switching from the Retail Price Index to the Consumer Price Index to calculate future levels of Renewables Obligation support. More details are available here.


  3. RenewableUK’s events programme is available here.